The transformation of transportation and mobility in Germany and Europe is creating new technological and resource-strategic challenges for the economy and society as a whole. The goal of the Fraunhofer FFB is therefore to provide a research and production infrastructure that enables small and medium-sized enterprises as well as large companies and research institutions to test, implement and optimize the near-series production of new batteries. In this way, it supports the industry in transforming its business models with a view to a successful transformation of transport and energy systems and enables it to produce battery cells economically and ecologically.

The construction of the "FFB PreFab" and the subsequent "FFB Fab" will thus accelerate the transformation of North Rhine-Westphalia into a center of sustainable electrochemical energy storage production. Svenja Schulze commented: "As a science location, Münster must be a driving force in solving the major social challenges facing our state. That's why it's good that the Research Institution for Battery Cell Production is one of the key players in battery research here in Münster.

The Fraunhofer FFB was represented at the meeting by the Managing directors, Prof. Dr. Jens Tübke, Prof. Dr. Achim Kampker and Prof. Dr. Simon Lux, as well as Dr. Florian Degen, Division Director "Strategy and Corporate Development". Also present were the Vice Rector for Research at the University of Münster, Prof. Dr. Monika Stoll, the Chairwoman of the SPD Parliamentary Group in the City Council of Münster, Lia Kirsch, and the Managing Director of Technologieförderung Münster GmbH, Matthias Günnewig. During the visit, the institute's director, Prof. Dr. Jens Tübke, introduced the institute's research focus and presented excerpts from current industrial projects. These included research and development activities on the use of innovative adhesive tape applications in battery cell technology, which are being carried out together with tesa SE, the international manufacturer of adhesive tapes and self-adhesive product solutions.

"The future demand for sustainable electrochemical energy storage is enormous. It is therefore our task to develop innovative solutions for resource-saving battery cell production. With our research production, we are creating an environment in which science and industry work closely together along the entire value chain of battery cell production, making BatteryCityMünster a key business and technology location for Germany and Europe," emphasized Managing Director Prof. Dr. Jens Tübke.

During her visit, Svenja Schulze was also given an insight into the current status of the building of the first construction phase, the "FFB PreFab", in the Hansa BusinessPark. Since the handover from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft e.V. in February 2023, significant structural progress has already been made on the 6,450 square meters of research space, such as the installation of clean and dry rooms and ventilation technology. In the second construction phase, the "FFB Fab" will bring production to an industrial scale. In the future, the "FFB Fab" will have a theoretical production capacity of 7 gigawatt hours per year. In cooperation with the MEET (Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology) at the University of Münster, the Helmholtz Institute Münster (HI MS; IEK-12), the International Graduate School BACCARA and other research partners in Aachen, Jülich and a strong network of partners throughout Germany, BatteryCityMünster is developing into a battery center recognized throughout Europe.

There are already 100 Fraunhofer employees in Münster working on the battery production of the future - once the FFB is completed, this number will rise to 150 to 200.

The entire Fraunhofer FFB construction project is being realized by the state development company NRW.URBAN, which has assumed the role of developer on behalf of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.